Schengen Visa is a visa that can be used to travel in the Schengen Area. It is named after the Schengen Agreement, which led to the creation of this visa.
A visa is an official document issued by a country that allows someone to enter and temporarily stay within that country. The Schengen Visa enables holders to enter and stay within the countries of the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
A Schengen visa is a document that entitles you to cross the borders of the European Union without any time limitation. It is a type of visa that allows its holder to travel freely within the Schengen Area (consisting of 26 European countries).
The Schengen Area is an area comprising 26 European countries in which internal border checks have been abolished. It functions as a single country for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy.
What Countries Can I Visit With a Schengen Visa?
Austria
Belgium
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
However, there is also a list of non-Schengen countries that allow you to enter with a valid Schengen visa, such as:
Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Georgia
Gibraltar
Kosovo
North Macedonia
Montenegro
Romania
Sao Tome and Principe
Serbia
Turkey
What Are The Types of Schengen Visas?
To transit through the airport of a country in the Schengen zone in order to take the plane to your Schengen destination country.
Tourism visits and sightseeing.
Business visits
Visiting family members and friends
Travel as part of a cultural exchange program, sports, or research
Medical visits
Short-term study courses.
Official visits
Uniform Schengen Visas (USV)
The Uniform Schengen Visa (USV) allows its holder to travel and stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days every six-month period. There are three types of Uniform Schengen visas:
Single-entry visa. With a Single entry visa, you can enter a Schengen country only once and stay until the expiration of visa validity. If you leave before the expiration, you are not allowed to enter the country again, since the visa is considered to have expired once you leave the country.
Double-entry visa. With a Double entry visa, you can enter a Schengen country twice within the time of visa validity. If you enter the country twice, and the second time you leave before the expiration, you are not allowed to enter the country again, since the visa is considered to have expired once you leave the country for the second time.
Multiple-entry visa. The Multiple entry visa allows you to enter and leave the Schengen Zone as many times as you please as long as your visa is valid.
Limited territorial validity visas (LTV)
The Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) visa allows its holder to travel only in the Schengen member country that has issued the visa. If i.e. France has issued you the visa, then you are permitted to stay only in France. You are not even allowed to transit from one country to another with the LTV visa. This visa is considered as an exception to a Uniform Visa and is only issued for international obligations or humanitarian reasons in general.
How to Apply for a Schengen Visa?
To have a successful Schengen visa application, you must go through these simple steps:
Fill out the Schengen Visa Application form.
Make an appointment.
Complete the documents file.
Show up at the appointment.
Provide biometrics.
Verify the documents.
Pay the visa fees.
Fill out the Schengen Visa Application form
Complete the application form online carefully and correctly, print it twice and sign it at the end. The form contains questions for basic information such as your name, date of birth, country of birth, passport number and nationality. You will also have to answer questions regarding your trip, such as how long are you planning to stay in each country, where you’re staying, etc.
Make an appointment
Appoint an interview through the website of the consulate or embassy of the country you are planning to visit, in your country of residence.
Complete the documents file
Make sure you have all the necessary documents for a Schengen visa as required, all of them in two copies. Organize them so that on the appointment day you will not have a mess on your hands. You will need to leave your passport at the consulate of the Schengen country where you apply for a visa. If you withdraw your passport while your application is being processed, your Schengen visa application will be canceled.
Show up at the appointment
Show up at the appointment center on time. Remember that if you are late even for a few minutes, then they will probably cancel your appointment. The submission process takes around 10 minutes to complete.
Provide biometrics
You will also have to get your fingerprints scanned at the consulate’s office if you have never before applied for a visa to Europe. If you have, then you don’t have to do it again since the consulate should be able to look it up.
Verify the details
After the verification of your application, your information will be entered into the online system and you will receive a printed copy of your application, which process usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. After you get the printed form, please make sure to verify all the details are correct and sign the form.
Underage applicants must be accompanied by their mother/father/legal guardian.
Pay the fees
The cost of a Schengen visa application for adults is 80€. Whereas the visa fee for children from the age of 6 years to the age of 12 years is 45€.
After you pay the fees, you will be issued a receipt which you have to keep in order to collect your processed application. In the case of visa application rejection, the fee will not get reimbursed. If you apply again for a visa, you will have to pay the fees again.